On Citizenship, Race, and Responsibility

Menu

Breaking the Mold

In light of Justice Stevens’ retirement announcement, the White House will begin to determine a nominee to be approved by the US Senate. Whereas in the not-so-distant past, only a white male nominee would ever be considered acceptable, the pressure has increased for President Obama to choose someone who does’t fit that mold. That pressure is, of course, lessened by Justice Sotomayor’s ascension to the bench. However, President Obama’s first term in office marks the first time in American history that the white, Christian, male candidate is at a disadvantage.

“Fortunately, the supreme court is a more diverse place than it has been…there is the possibility that there could be the first Asian-American justice, but i suspect there may well be another woman on the court,” Jeffery Toobin said this morning on CNN.

Elena Kagan, who is considered the leading candidate for Stevens’ position, would be the first Justice in a long time who was not a judge prior to her appointment.

It seems like whoever Obama chooses– regardless of their political standpoint– will be somehow breaking the mold.